Discover the new amongst the old

Christchurch is fixing up and redeveloping at a crazy fast pace, with contemporary spaces and statement buildings appearing around every corner.

You'll find new opportunities for shopping, eating and sipping great coffee wherever you go. Plus there are the old faithfuls that have been part of the city's life for generations.

Café culture

Christchurch's coffee scene is booming. The bravest places are those roasting their own beans on the premises and experimenting with cold drip and cold brew options. Black & White Coffee Cartel and Lumes are two of these pioneers.

The bars spill out onto a delightful two-storied courtyard – the perfect place to be on a hazy summer evening.

Another smart choice is award-winning C1 Espresso in High Street. Famed for tasty sliders (delivered through pneumatic tubes) and curly fries, along with the ability to serve up a perfect flat white every time, this café is located in an old post office. The décor includes pinball machines and moving bookcases.

Another smart coffee move is a visit to Lyttelton Coffee Company, just 20 minutes from the Christchurch CBD. Located on London Street, this portside café has superb harbour views, excellent cabinet food, loud music and a bit of attitude. Time your visit for a Saturday and you can make the local farmers' market part of your Lyttelton adventure.

Dux Central

Bar hopping in the central city

The nightlife scene in Christchurch has picked up pace recently, assisted by the influx of people working on the city's post-quake regeneration. In the central hospitality precinct, there are two venues that never fail to impress.

Dux Central comes complete with four distinctive spaces, each providing a slightly different vibe and range of food and drink offerings. The bars spill out onto a delightful two-storied courtyard - the perfect place to be on a hazy summer evening. Next door, Pot Sticker Dumpling Bar is a carefully curated space offering authentic Chinese dumplings alongside exceptional local wine by North Canterbury's Black Estate.

The close proximity of Pot Sticker and Dux Central, combined with Stranges Lane's southwestern inspired offerings just around the corner, means your big night out is within easy reach of city hotels.

Boutique shops at The Tannery

Shopping at The Tannery

For a boutique shopping experience, head out to the suburbs. The Tannery in Woolston is a beautifully restored building that's home to a range of local New Zealand fashion labels, carefully curated homeware stores, a florist, hairdresser and tattoo parlour. It also has a popular wine bar, deli and restaurant.

No detail was spared with the masterful rejuvenation of the building and its surrounding area. The Heathcote River meanders past here, and the developers have not overlooked the importance of bringing the forgotten waterway back to life.

Woolston and The Tannery are just 15 minutes from the city on the way to Lyttelton. It's a great excursion to combine with a trip to the Lyttelton Coffee Company.